Circular-knitting machine



(No Model.)

J. L. EOK. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 19,1897.

z y 5 a Inventor.

Witnesses: I

Attorney.

Y needles together in the narrowing operation the line w w of Fig. 1.

V U ITED STATES PATENT Unison.

JAMES L. EOK, OF READING. PENNFZYLVANEA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTEN G MACHlNE-Z.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,134, dated Gctoher 19, 1897. l Application filed May 1'7, 1895:. Serial No. 64%640. (No model.)

county oi: Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Circular- Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circular-knitting machines; and it consists, first, in improved mechanism for raising out of. service the half-back needles, as required preparatory to the formation of the heel of a stocking, for instance, and for again lowering said needles afterv the heel has been formed, second, in providing for the lowering of two of the raised and the reraising of one of them, whereby the formation of the heel is more satisfactorily effected.

The features of the invention are fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of the needle-cylinder of the machine. Fig. 2 is an inside view of a portion of the camcylinder developed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the cam-cylinder, having theswitch-cam mechanism attached thereto; and

Fig. 4: is a sectional elevation ofvthe same on Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are separate views of several parts of the machine. My present invention relates particularly to the form of machine for which Letters Patent were issued to me J uly'17, 1894, No. 523,111; and in the accompanying drawings I have only shown so much of the general construction as is required to clearly explain the application and effect of my improvements.

The cam-cylinder A is arranged to turn upon the inclosed needle cylinder B with either a rotary or reciprocating motion, as desired for different work, in the usual manner,

' and is shown provided with a cam mechanism similar in the main to that which is particularly described and claimed in my prior patent referred to. This mechanism consists, essentially, v ii -separate throwing-down and throwing up cams adapted to operate, respectively, nponthe, raised and lowered series of,

needles in widening and narrowing. The throwing-down cams D D are each carried by an exterior arm D, pivoted atd to the cam" cylinder, the cam being adapted to turn in one direction upon its pivotal connection (1 to the arm, (against the tension of a spring not shown in the drawings,) but rendered rigid therewith as to strains in the opposite direction by means of stops d d The throwing-up cams F F are pivoted atffi' to the cam-cylinder and are weighted so to nor mally fall into lowered position. The only difference to be noted in these two sets of cams, as compared with those shown in my previous patent, are, first, that the hooked ends dof the throwing-down cams are lengthened so as to engage the heels of twc needles instead of one, and, second, that the throw-- ing-up cams are independent of the on; in arms E and connected mechanism whereby the throwing-down cams are moved into operative or inoperative position, instead of be ingarranged to en gage therewith. The effect of these differences will be described later. The central pivoted cam H, fixed cams H H H and K K, and pivoted cams G G form jointly, as heretofore, the upper and lower courses of the needles required to form the stitches in ordinary knitting.

In my prior patent no special provision was made for raising out of action about onehalf of the needles, technically called the half-back needles, as is required preparatory to the operation of forming the heel or toe of a stocking. To accomplish this and the subsequent lowering of the same automatically, i now provide a novel mechanism comprising a pair of switch-cams M M, which are mounted in oppositelyinclined position in openings in the wall of the caincylinder and are capable of radial movement, and a lever mechanism whereby. one or other of said cams is caused to project inwardly into the path of the needles and engage such of the latter as are intended to be operated by them. A guide-bracket N is provided for the headed shank N, forming part of each cam, add a spring n (oneof which is shown on the left-hand shank in Fig. 3) is arranged to normally retract the cam, while a lever Q, pivoted at g to a bracket 0 on the cam-cylinder, is adapted when rocked to hear at one or other of its opposite ends q (1 against a cans until it projects it suiiieientlyinto the path come in contact with it, when it of the-needles to engage such of the latter as are provided with long heels 0, while permitting those with short heels 0', Fig. l, to pass freely. The cam M is set low down, so that the heels of the needles cannot pass under its lower ends when it is projected, but are forcedlto raise up theineline and pass over thetop end, while the cam M is set high, so as to cause the heels of the. raised needles to is projected, and to ride down its inclined side and under itsfend into the lower course. To operate the lever Q, I employ a shaft P, mounted vertically in the bracket 0 and provided at its upper end with a cam or tooth R, arranged to engage teeth or projections q g on the rocking lever, and at its lower end with an arm S of any suitable form whereby the shaft may be turned. The tooth R is so shaped as to rock the lever Q a suiiicient distance to properly project the switch-cam and to hold it in such position against any strain upon thecam.

For convenience in assembling and disconnecting the iarts, the shanks N are preferably detacha 1y secured to their respective cams and cam R is removably secured by any suitable means to .its shaft P. The manner preferred of securing the shanks to the cams is by screw-threads, as shown. Each shank is shown as encircled by a collar it, having an enlarged end, which is let into a recess in the contiguous camv an abutment forthe end of the coiled spring n, said collar being formed on the end of bracket N.

The use of two series of needles having heels d or c of different lengths is not new,

Eolbnt If have provided the shank of each needle with an additional heel or stop 0 adjacent to the main heel, but nearer the hpok of the needle, said supplemental heel serving as a positive stop for the needle,

and thereby permanentiy relieving the main shank of its function as a stop against the needle-band. The needle is preferably formed with a compound curve, shown at 0 above said supplemental heel to provide a pocket contiguous to the latter for the band BK The pur pose and effect of this improvement are, first, to greatly reduce the liabilit of breakage both of the needles and the ribs Z) between the needle-grooves, and, second, to increase the guiding and wearing sur ace of the needles in said grooves. eular groove h in the periphery of the needleeylinder for the spring-band 13 makes the eornerbZ-Fig. 8, of each rib so weak that any considerable side strain is likely to break it oif'. I have found that in practice such strains are brought against the needle-heels c, and that in the construction of needles heretofore used this. strain comes directly u n the weak corner 5 of the rib and resillgs in breakage. both of the ribs. and needles.

and providesv It is evident that the ciring-springs on said shanks for holding cams normally outof the needle-path, a rocking lever arranged to engage one or the other of said shanks when moved from its central position, for projecting said came one at a time into, thev needle-path, and means for op- By providing the additional heel 0 instead t of making the main heel C serve as a stop against the spring-band B, the strain brought upon the main heel is taken by the rib a considerable distance below the weak upper corner and no breakage likely to occur, while at the same time the stop a furnishes an additional. bearin and prevents rapid side wear on the needle, thus considerably increasing its life.

In the operation of .the machine for circular knitting the needles take the course marked 3 in Fig. 2, the needle-heels passing under the throwing-up cam l ",'which has been raised from its natural lowered position by the first needle contacting with it, as indicated by the arrow 45, this needle being subsequently lowered again by the throwing into action of the switch-cam M. Thus the cam F is held in raised position by the needles passing under it instead. of being independently supported, as in my prior construction referred to, and falls freely into the lowered position indicated in the drawings when a series of needles are raised out of the course 3. When the heel of a stocking is reached, for instance, about one-half of the needles must be raised and the motion of the cam-cylinder changed from rotary to reciprocatingf To effect the former action, the switch-cam M is thrown into service, as before described, and the. long-heeled needles are raised, as indicated by the dotted line 1. The narrow ing is then effected by the action of the cams F and F, which alternately raise the end needles out of service, the throwing-down cams being lowered so as to permit the passage of the raised needles over them, all as in my prior construction referred to, The widening is then effected by raising the cams D D to the position shown. This brings two of the raised needles under the hook (Z of the cam, as indicated by dotted lines, and they are both thrown down by the movement of the latter and pass under the cam h", which is held in raised position. by the preceding lowered needles with which they follow the course 3. On the return stroke one of these needles (marked O is again raised by the cam F, so that each double movement of the cam-cylinder widens only one needle at each end, as heretofore.

Having thus fully explained my invention and distinguished the same from'what has heretofore been done, what I desire to claim 1s- 1. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the cam-cylinder, of two oppositely-inclined switch-cams radially movable through openings in the oylinder-wall, shanks projecting through said wall from said cams, retractsaid crating said lever.

2. In a knitting-machine the combination with the cam-cylinder of two oppositely-inclined switch-cams radially movable through openings in the cylinder-wall exterior shanks on said cams provided with retracting-sprin gs, a rocking lever adapted to engage one or other of said cam-shanks when moved from its central position, and a vertically-arranged shaft,

l providediwith a cam engaging said locking lever and adapted to operate the same, substantially as set forth.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the cam-cylinder of two oppositely-inclined switch-cams radially movable through openings in the cylinder-wall, exterior shanks in said cams provided with retracting-springs, a rocking lever adapted to engage one or other of said cam-shanks when moved from its central position, a vertical shaft, carrying a cam or tooth R adapted to'operate and lock said rocking lever, and means for turning said cam-shaft, substantially as set forth.

l. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the cam-cylinder of two oppositely-in,- clined switch-cams radially movable through openings in the cylinder-wall and having exteriorlyprojecting' shanks, guides for said shanks having springs thereon arranged to retract the cams, a lever-bracket with ,rocking lever and cam-shaft mounted thereon for operating the switching-cams, and means for turning the shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the cam-cylinder, and the radially-movable switch-cams having shanks, of aroqking lever having its ends arranged to engage and .move said shanks inward, and a cam engaging said lever and rocking the same, for the purpose specified.

6. In. a knitting-machine, the combination with the cam-cylinder, and the radially-movable switch-cams having shanks, of a rocking lever having its endsarranged to engage and move said shanks inward, said lever being formed with an opening between said ends, a cam within said opening, operating upon the walls thereof to rock said lever and lock the same, and a shaft oarryingsaid cam, substantially as described.

7. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the cam-cylinder, the radially-movable switch-camshaving shanks, and springsencircling said shanks for holding the cams normally in their outermost positions, of a rocking lever for projectingsaid cams'one at a time into the needle-path, said lever having its ends arranged to engage said shanks, and being formed with an opening between said ends, a cam within said opening, operating upon the walls thereof to rock said lever, and a shaft carrying said cam. 1

S. In a knitting .nachine, the combination with the cam-cylinder, and the fixed cams H" H II and K'K'and pivoted cams Hand G G, of the throwing-down cams, having hooked ends arranged to automatically lower two needles at the end of a raised series, pivoted arms carrying said throwing down cams, cross-arms E, throwing-up cams arranged to reraise one of said lowered needles, said throwing-up cams being independent of said cross-arms and having weighted ends.

constructed and arranged automatically to lower at once two needles'at the end of a.

raised series, pivoted arms, carrying said cams, cross-arms E, and narrowing-cams arranged to reraise one of said lowered needles, said narrowing-cams being independent of said cross-arms and having weighted ends, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

12. The combination of a needle-cylinder, acam-cylinder, means for operating one of said cylinders, needles disposed in the needle-cylinder, stitch-cams disposed in'the camcylinder, narrowing-cams for moving indi; vidual needles into inoperative position, and widening-cams provided with hooks adapted to engage at once a plurality of inoperative needles to bring them into operative position, each narrowing-cam being movable into and out of operative position independentlyof the widening-cams.

13. In a knitting-machine the combination of the needles, a needle-engaging cam independent of controlling devices, and a needleengagin'g cam constructed to engage two adjacent needles.

1 4. In a knitting-machine, the combination of the needles, narrowing-camsindependent of controlling devices, and widening-cams constructed to engage two adjacent needles.

In testimony whereof I affix nly'siguature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. ECK.

- IVitnesses:

W. G. STEWART, CAMERON E. STRAUSS. 

